Overview

• The Accident Investigation Board found hydraulic fluid contaminated with water froze in the nose and main landing gear struts during the January 28 flight from Eielson Air Force Base.
• Frozen conditions led all valid weight‑on‑wheels sensors to indicate the jet was on the ground, causing a transition to an on‑ground flight‑control law and a subsequent loss of control in the air.
• The pilot ran multiple checklists, spent roughly 50 minutes on a live conference call with five Lockheed Martin engineers, and attempted two touch‑and‑go maneuvers without resolving the gear anomaly.
• The report cites crew decision‑making and lapses in hazardous‑materials oversight as contributing factors; the pilot ejected and sustained minor injuries.
• Officials said the aircraft was destroyed with a $196.5 million loss, and a similar hydraulic‑icing issue occurred at the base nine days later but ended in a safe landing.